Easter Baskets and More GOOD Stuff
What better time to think about doing good than Easter weekend. This week, the Jackson Free Press focused on everything from Building a Better Easter Basket to spring cleaning in Getting Rid of Stuff the Green Way.
News Bits: The Jackson Mayor's Race
Harper Withdraws, Leaving 11 Democrats for the Primary
Joyce Harper, one of 12 Democratic candidates who filed for the mayor's job in Jackson, has withdrawn from the race, lending her endorsement to incumbent Mayor Frank Melton, according to a release from the Melton campaign.
Barbour Signs Children First Act
Yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour put his signature on Senate Bill 2628, also known as the Children First Act of 2009.
Jackson Zoo Debuts Baby Chimp, MoJo
Beginning today at 1 p.m., visitors to the Jackson Zoo will be able to see its newest addition, a male chimpanzee named MoJo, born March 8. Mojo has been indoors with his mother, Missy, since his birth.
Jubilee!JAM Call for Exhibitors
[verbatim] Preparations are underway for Downtown Jackson to play host to the twenty-second annual Jackson Arts & Music Festival, better known as Jubilee!JAM. Organizers for the 2009 celebration have set the dates for Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.
Inner-City Community Garden Planned
[verbatim] The Jackson Inner-city Gardeners (JIG) invites volunteers and youth to join in the fun of planting Jackson's first community garden, where seasonal, organic, vegetables will be grown and sold at affordable prices, and youth will be taught valuable life skills.
Get Free Help with Your Taxes
[verbatim] The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation (JMMF) is making it easy for you to file your taxes this year. If you or your family's total household income is less than $42,000 a year, you qualify for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). VITA is a FREE, IRS certified tax preparation service sponsored by the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation and United Way. The next VITA session is TODAY, Tuesday, April 7, 2009 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. VITA will be at the Medical Mall again on April 10th. The program runs through April 14th at the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center. For more information or to volunteer, contact United Way by dialing 211 or the Jackson Medical Mal Foundation at (601) 982-8467.
Murrah Student Wins Economics Award
[Verbatim] Zachary Yoder from Murrah High School in Jackson was named the 2009 Economics Student of the Year, an honor given to the student with the highest individual scores on the Mississippi Council on Economics' statewide Economic and Financial Literacy Challenge. Students compete on the topics of microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics and current events.
Crisler Leads after McMillin Endorsement
Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin's endorsement last Friday made a big difference for Councilman Marshand Crisler in the crowded field of Democratic mayoral candidates in Jackson, according to political consulting firm Zata|3.
Tax-Free Weekend Bill Signed
Last week, Gov. Haley Barbour signed a bill into law that will save Mississippians shopping for school clothing and shoes the 7 percent sales tax during the last weekend in July.
File under 'WTF'
Federally run "big gorilla" mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will pay out $210 million in retention bonuses over the next 18 months, reports Times Online. Between them, the two companies reported $108 billion in losses last year, and Congress is allocating $200 billion of taxpayer money to bail them out of the hole they dug for themselves.
Consultant Reveals Mayoral Poll Results
Political consulting firm Zata3 polled 500 Jackson voters via phone on Wednesday concerning the upcoming mayoral race.
Environmental Issues on the Pearl
If floating, fishing or boating on the Pearl River is part of your upcoming plans, you might want to reconsider, at least for a while
JPS Teacher is Mississippi's Best
Last February, Jackson Public Schools named Murrah High School English teacher Stacey Donaldson as Jackson's teacher of the year. Yesterday, state Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds named her the best teacher in Mississippi for 2009.
Barbour Schedules Stimulus Meeting
[verbatim] Governor Haley Barbour is bringing together state agency heads, legislators and local government officials as well as inviting the public to participate in a Mississippi Stimulus Summit on April 16.
Expect More Severe Weather Today
The National Weather Service advises that Jackson can expect more severe weather today, with strong thunderstorms moving into the area from the West. The Capital City is under a Tornado watch until 5 p.m. tonight.
Crossroads Film Festival Starts Tonight
See this week's cover story for reviews, and make sure to check the JFP Events Calendar for more info. See you at the movies!
Regular Legislative Session Ends with Unresolved Issues
The Mississippi Legislature's 2009 session ended temporarily today. With the 2010 budget yet to be resolved, lawmakers are planning a second session beginning in May or June.
Controversial Melton Photos are Real
WAPT is reporting that the controversial photos of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton with a bevy of bikini-clad girls are on the up and up.
Will Work for Horse Shoes
Necessity, goes the cliché, is the mother of invention.
So where do unemployed cowgirls go to find a job? Texas is one obvious answer. And how do cowgirls get to Texas? They ride their horses, of course.
Register to Vote This Week
If you have not registered to vote yet, and you intend to vote in the May 5 primaries, get yourself to the Jackson City Clerk's office (219 S. President Street) this week.
Gannett Rewards Moon with $3.7 Million
Amid tanking stock prices, pay freezes and unpaid employee furloughs, USA TODAY publisher Craig Moon will walk away with at least a $3.7 million retirement package, according to the Gannett Blog.
No Agreement on Funding Medicaid
Lawmakers were unable to agree yesterday on a bill proposing a tax on hospital beds to help fund Medicaid, reports WXVT15, missing their Monday night deadline.
Bill Funds Cybercrime Unit
Yesterday, legislators sent Senate Bill 2978 to Gov. Haley Barbour for his signature, which will increase by $1 fines for certain misdemeanors and felonies by $1 to help fund the attorney general's cybercrime unit, reports wmctv.com.
Mississippi Schools Get New Rating System
Earlier this month, the Mississippi State School Board approved a new accountability rating system that gives top schools a "Star School" rating among its seven levels, instead of the previous numbered ratings of "Level 1" for the lowest scoring schools, to "Level 5" for the highest scoring.
Legislators Will Reconvene After Break
Mississippi's state constitution calls for an annual legislative session of 90 days. For 2009, 90 days after the Jan. 6 session start is Sunday, April 5. If by some miracle, both houses submit and then agree on a budget for the 2010 fiscal year by this Saturday, legislators will go home until next year. That seems a remote possibility, though, and the likelihood is that all 174 Mississippi legislators—122 representatives and 52 senators—will reconvene in May. Or perhaps, June.
You Can Help Revive the Cigarette Tax
Communities for a Clean Bill of Health says that Mississippians can be instrumental in reviving the cigarette tax increase for this session.
Tornados Result in One Death
Eugene Dixon Jr., 36, of D'Iberville drowned around 2:30 a.m. when flood waters swamped his vehicle. Police discovered his body hundreds of yards from the vehicle, reports the Sun Herald.
Mayoral Candidates at Jackson State
You still have time to get to Jackson State University for a mayoral discussion forum this morning. Here are the details, per JSU:
Fondren Event Features Local High School Artists
If you've never been to a Fondren After 5 event (what used to be called ArtMix), or even if you have, here's a great reason to come next Thursday: to support the arts in Jackson Public Schools.
Storms Tonight ‘May Be the Worst'
[Verbatim from MEMA] The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency warns residents to get ready for the threat of a significant severe weather outbreak tonight that may enter the western counties of the state by late afternoon and pass through east Mississippi by sunrise.
Felder Rushing Featured in New York Times
On Wednesday, The New York Times featured Felder Rushing, local horticulturist extraordinaire and host of Mississippi Public Broadcasting's "The Gestalt Gardener," in a piece titled "Slow, Easy, Cheap and Green."
Gov. Mabus Tapped for Navy Secretary
President Barack Obama nominated former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus to serve as secretary of the Navy, reports The Associated Press.
Domestic Violence Bills Signed
Gov. Haley Barbour signed two bills addressing issues of domestic violence into law this session, both of which drafted by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.
Governor Signs Tanning Bill
Yesterday, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed a bill into law that restricts the use of tanning beds by those under the age of 18.
Legislators Scramble to Fill $25 Million Budget Hole
In the wake of the cigarette tax hike death, Mississippi lawmakers face a bankrupt fund designed to give drivers a car tag discount. Legislators were counting on revenue from part of the increased cigarette tax—$25 million—to shore up that fund, reports Forbes.com.
Holmes County Unemployment Hits 20 Percent
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security released the state's February unemployment figures (PDF, 8 Mb) yesterday, showing Holmes County with the highest unemployment rate in the state at 20 percent, an increase of 0.6 percent since last month, representing an additional 40 people who filed for unemployment.
Barbour Declares State of Emergency
[verbatim from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency]
Governor Haley Barbour declared a State of Emergency today for the severe weather system that affected parts of the state late Wednesday afternoon and today, and for the threat of additional storms and damage due to forecasted storms over the next several days.
Cigarette Tax Goes Up in Smoke
The deadline has passed for the Mississippi House and Senate to come to an agreement on a cigarette tax hike for this session. Legislators had until 8 p.m. yesterday to reach a compromise, and they failed to do so.
Jackson Habitat Looking for Applicants
[verbatim] Habitat for Humanity/Metro Jackson is a non-profit Christian organization whose purpose is to build and sell basic, decent homes at 0% interest to hardworking families in need of better, affordable housing. HFH/MJ partners with families who have a reliable source of income* and that meet the following income guidelines:
House Passes Resolution to Extend Session
Lawmakers in the Mississippi House passed a resolution yesterday to extend the current session for 30 days.
Casey Elementary Holds Arts Festival
Show your support for arts in the schools by planning a visit to Casey Elementary School (2101 Lake Circle) for their annual Arts Festival, tomorrow, March 26.
MPB Wins Community Impact Award
Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Between the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative received a My Source Community Impact Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting today.
DeLaughter Trial Rescheduled
Federal District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson has granted a motion for continuance to suspended Hinds County Judge Bobby DeLaughter. The trial, originally scheduled to begin April 6, is now set for Aug. 17, 2009.
Recio Still Getting City Paycheck
Although suspended from duty, Michael Recio, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's former bodyguard, is still pulling down a paycheck from the city, according to WAPT.
Jackson Police Arrested City Employee at Parade
During Saturday's Mal's St Paddy's Parade in downtown Jackson, one of the seven people arrested was a city employee with close ties to Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, reports WAPT:
Bill Banning Red-Light Cameras Signed into Law
Among the bills signed into law by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Friday is House Bill 1568, which bans the use of cameras to catch motorists running red lights.
Barbour Will Veto Eminent Domain Bill
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will exercise his veto power today regarding eminent domain, reports WAPT.
Virginia Recalls Mississippi Gulf Oysters
Oysters harvested off a section of Mississippi's Gulf Coast are being blamed for a norovirus found in patrons of a Tennessee restaurant, reports The Washington Post.
Cigarette Tax Hike Still in Limbo
Mississippi legislators reconvene next week to continue haggling over whether to send a bill to increase taxes on cigarettes to the governor, and how high the tax should be, reports Forbes.com.